If we had a fantasy when we started talking about moving to California, it was probably to find an early 1900’s beach cottage where we’d walk to swim in the ocean every morning, back in the afternoon to relax, then back at night to look at the stars. Somehow, that’s exactly what we found. Wow!
After researching the entire Central Coast for housing for about six months when we decided to take this leap of faith, when the 1920’s beach cottage in Carpinteria popped up under the heading “Live at the Beach,” we pounced. Carp first got on our radar on our scouting trip out here, initially because it’s on the trainline that runs to both LA and Santa Barbara (and on to San Francisco and San Diego). It boasts a beautiful beach (ostensibly the World’s Safest Beach, we were soon to learn), and has a peaceful beachtown vibe where the rolling is slow. People say Carpinteria is like Santa Barbara was 50 years ago. As I was told by the local bikeshop owner (who appears to have been there since the 60’s): “If you’re famous you live in Santa Barbara, if you’re rich you live in Montecito, and if you’re lucky you live in Carpinteria.” We got lucky.
Zeke and Maddie seemed to instantly know we were finally home and both slept for a couple of days as soon as the movers left.
It looks like Hawaii out every window (just ask Maddie).
Boy, did we really get lucky. We were sold on the cottage after walking the dirt path under the 101 to maybe the most spectacularly beautiful beach either of us have ever seen in any part of the world. But beyond the beauty, it’s just a special place. Huge beach that stretches on forever and is sparsely populated. We’ve had it to ourselves about a third of the time. Most folks know it as Rincon. There’s a swim beach to the right that locals still call Bates Beach (the name of our road and the old ranch). Bates Beach was the naturalists hang until some yuppies got sick of seeing naked people and talked the sheriff into making it illegal about a decade ago. What a bunch of squares. Check out the I ❤ Bates Beach movement. We’re on board. (For real, check out the pics on that site, but maybe not while you’re at work. Unless you’re a songwriter, of course).
To the left, is the surf beach, Rincon Point, which is legendary worldwide. It’s like MadMax meets a Bob Marley festival. They’ve built a whole world with shanties, even a garden that is communally maintained by the world-class surfers that rotate throughout the year. Where the person you think is homeless might be the #1 ranked surfer in the world. But won’t admit it. Really welcoming folks. They’ll pull up a chair for you, offer you the first pull of their Tecate tallboy and a toke off their big fat funny-smelling cigarettes that everyone seems to have here.
The first weekend after we moved in was the legendary 31st annual California Peace, Love & Avocado Festival right here in Carpinteria. Avocado Festival is everything you would think it would be. Packed full of people and avocados. They have The Largest Avocado contest, a strong man/woman contest to see who can hold a bag of avocados the longest. We saw the opening ceremony which consists of the Grand Marshal balancing an avocado on the nose of the seal sculpture (and this lady was not screwing around). Great bands on 4 stages featuring many local celebrities including bands who had been playing this festival together for over 30 years– i.e. they were everybody’s favorite high school band 30 years later. I mean, they were no Skull Soup, but they were a pretty fantastic beach/ska/reggae band that got a thousand people dancing. And kept them dancing. I bet their mosh pit makes guacamole. We went all three days. Mom, Kam, and Cornelia met us the last day to dance to Spencer the Gardener who had songs about avocados (for real, check out The A.V.O.C.A.D.O. Song). There was a dancing avocado man that could really get down. All in all, it was a pretty cool first weekend in our new hometown.
We spent the next few weeks finding our favorite local haunts. I have discovered two of the greatest things in life. First, the potato skin hash bowl at the Worker Bee Café in downtown Carpinteria. They have many other fine menu items, too, although I have never ordered them. I did however have the good fortune of ordering the second most amazing thing: Nitrogen (or is it nitrous oxide?) powered coffee on tap. Think of the best Guinness you’ve ever had. But it’s coffee. Yum.
Got my haircut at the local barbershop on the main drag. Been spending many hours at our new coffeeshop, the Lucky Llama, too (although they unfortunately don’t have the Nitro coffee…). Poking in next door at the Heritage store run by our new friend, Emma (what a sweetheart). They have live chicks and I can talk to them about hogs.
Casey’s been meeting art folks from Santa Ynez down to LA and getting snapped up by most all of them. Pretty rich, exciting arts scene out here.
Been running down to LA most every week or so to catch up with old friends and meet new folks in the arts and music scenes. First week in town, we rolled through Beverly Hills headed to a houseparty. Our old neighbor, handsome Pete, invited us to a good old-fashioned Hollywood showcase. I got there 15 minutes after it started in my normal tire-biter mentality so as to imbibe as much free food and booze as possible. Can you believe in LA they don’t arrive for 2 hours after they say you can come inside? They’re missing two hours of free food and booze. This would never happen in Nashville. Other things that would never happen in Nashville: 1) Being asked to remove your boots at the door (for real, they took a country boys boots. I said “hell, you want me to take my shirt off, too?”); 2) The food spread was completely vegan, but tasted like amazing barbecue and stuff; 3) Rather than taking place in a parking lot or the back of a retail store, the showcase was in a phat maison up in the Bird Streets that seemed to go on forever. We were definitely in LA.
It’s pretty wild out here. A land without big box stores or billboards polluting the view. Where flowers line the interstates. With mountains to the left and the ocean to the right if you’re headed south. Casey has several favorite trees that she likes to point out (each and every) time we pass them. If you’re not spellbound by the ocean in the foreground, you’re captivated by the mountains in the distance. Kind of trippy to be here. Every day, not on vacation.
So, in short, we’ve landed pretty well. And hopefully by now, we’ve convinced you to come visit. That bright orange couch is a hide-a-bed. Just saying. Old friends, we sure miss you. New friends, thanks for the warm welcome.
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